Hong Kong : 4th Tamiflu-resistant swine flu strain detected

[Gert van der Hoek]

October 22, 2009

Surveillance

Tamiflu-resistant swine flu strain detected

The Department of Health has detected a strain of human swine flu virus resistant to Tamiflu. It is the fourth time Tamiflu resistance to the virus has been found in Hong Kong and is the third local case.

However, the strain is sensitive to Relenza.

The virus was taken from a 16-year-old girl who came down with flu-like symptoms September 14 and attended a designated flu clinic September 16. She had no history of taking Tamiflu before the specimen was taken. She has recovered.

The case will be reported to the World Health Organisation. So far more than 5,000 swine flu samples have been tested for anti-viral sensitivity in Hong Kong.

http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/091022/txt/091022en05008.htm?

 

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Hong Kong : 4th Tamiflu-resistant swine flu strain detected

"Tamiflu Metabolite Measured in Japanese Sewage Discharge, River Water
Study Supports Ozonation as Additional Water Treatment During Pandemic

Oseltamivir phosphate (OP; Tamiflu) is a prodrug which is rapidly and extensively hydrolyzed in vivo to its active metabolite, oseltamivir carboxylate (OC)? OC is present in sewage treatment plant effluent and river water only during the flu season?widespread use of OP to fight seasonal influenza in humans could lead to the development of OC-resistant strains of the viruses in wild birds (Fick et al.2007; Singer et al. 2007)." http://www.ehponline.org/members/2009/0900930/0900930.pdf